old christmas-第5部分

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　the　Squire；　to　whom　he　had　become　a　factotum；　and　whom　he　particularly　delighted　by　jumping　with　his　humour　in　respect　to　old　times；　and　by　having　a　scrap　of　an　old　song　to　suit　every　occasion。　We　had　presently　a　specimen　of　his　last　mentioned　talent；　for　no　sooner　was　supper　removed；　and　spiced　wines　and　other　beverages　peculiar　to　the　season　introduced；　than　Master　Simon　was　called　on　for　a　good　old　Christmas　song。　　He　bethought　himself　for　a　moment；　and　then；　with　a　sparkle　of　the　eye；　and　a　voice　that　was　by　no　means　bad；　excepting　that　it　ran　occasionally　into　a　falsetto；　like　the　notes　of　a　split　reed；　he　quavered　forth　a　quaint　old　ditty：


　　　　　　　　　　〃Now　Christmas　is　come；　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　us　beat　up　the　drum；　　　　　And　call　all　our　neighbours　together；　　　　　　　　　　　　And　when　they　appear；　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　us　make　them　such　cheer　　　　　As　will　keep　out　the　wind　and　the　weather；〃　　　　　　　　　　　　etc。


The　supper　had　disposed　every　one　to　gaiety；　and　an　old　harper　was　summoned　from　the　servants'　hall；　where　he　had　been　strumming　all　the　evening；　and　to　all　appearance　comforting　himself　with　some　of　the　Squire's　home…brewed。　　He　was　a　kind　of　hanger…on；　I　was　told；　of　the　establishment；　and　though　ostensibly　a　resident　of　the　village；　was　oftener　to　be　found　in　the　Squire's　kitchen　than　his　own　home；　the　old　gentleman　being　fond　of　the　sound　of　〃harp　in　hall。〃

The　dance；　like　most　dances　after　supper；　was　a　merry　one；　some　of　the　older　folks　joined　in　it；　and　the　Squire　himself　figured　down　several　couples　with　a　partner　with　whom　he　affirmed　he　had　danced　at　every　Christmas　for　nearly　half　a　century。　　Master　Simon；　who　seemed　to　be　a　kind　of　connecting　link　between　the　old　times　and　the　new；　and　to　be　withal　a　little　antiquated　in　the　taste　of　his　accomplishments；　evidently　piqued　himself　on　his　dancing；　and　was　endeavouring　to　gain　credit　by　the　heel　and　toe；　rigadoon；　and　other　graces　of　the　ancient　school；　but　he　had　unluckily　assorted　himself　with　a　little　romping　girl　from　boarding…school；　who；　by　her　wild　vivacity；　kept　him　continually　on　the　stretch；　and　defeated　all　his　sober　attempts　at　elegance；such　are　the　ill…　assorted　matches　to　which　antique　gentlemen　are　unfortunately　prone！

The　young　Oxonian；　on　the　contrary；　had　led　out　one　of　his　maiden　aunts；　on　whom　the　rogue　played　a　thousand　little　knaveries　with　impunity；　he　was　full　of　practical　jokes；　and　his　delight　was　to　tease　his　aunts　and　cousins；　yet；　like　all　madcap　youngsters；　he　was　a　universal　favourite　among　the　women。　　The　most　interesting　couple　in　the　dance　was　the　young　officer　and　a　ward　of　the　Squire's；　a　beautiful　blushing　girl　of　seventeen。　　From　several　shy　glances　which　I　had　noticed　in　the　course　of　the　evening；　I　suspected　there　was　a　little　kindness　growing　up　between　them；　and；　indeed；　the　young　soldier　was　just　the　hero　to　captivate　a　romantic　girl。　　He　was　tall；　slender；　and　handsome；　and　like　most　young　British　officers　of　late　years；　had　picked　up　various　small　accomplishments　on　the　Continenthe　could　talk　French　and　Italian　draw　landscapes；sing　very　tolerablydance　divinely；　but　above　all　he　had　been　wounded　at　Waterloo；what　girl　of　seventeen；　well　read　in　poetry　and　romance；　could　resist　such　a　mirror　of　chivalry　and　perfection！

The　moment　the　dance　was　over；　he　caught　up　a　guitar；　and　lolling　against　the　old　marble　fireplace；　in　an　attitude　which　I　am　half　inclined　to　suspect　was　studied；　began　the　little　French　air　of　the　Troubadour。　　The　Squire；　however；　exclaimed　against　having　anything　on　Christmas　eve　but　good　old　English；　upon　which　the　young　minstrel；　casting　up　his　eye　for　a　moment；　as　if　in　an　effort　of　memory；　struck　into　another　strain；　and；　with　a　charming　air　of　gallantry；　gave　Herrick's　〃Night…Piece　to　Julia：〃


　　　　〃Her　eyes　the　glow…worm　lend　thee；　　　　　　The　shooting　stars　attend　thee；　　　　　　　　And　the　elves　also；　　　　　　　　Whose　little　eyes　glow　　　　　　Like　the　sparks　of　fire；　befriend　thee。

　　　　〃No　Will…o'…the…Wisp　mislight　thee；　　　　　　Nor　snake　or　glow…worm　bite　thee；　　　　　　　　But　on；　on　thy　way；　　　　　　　　Not　making　a　stay；　　　　　　Since　ghost　there　is　none　to　affright　thee。

　　　　〃Then　let　not　the　dark　thee　cumber；　　　　　　What　though　the　moon　does　slumber；　　　　　　　　The　stars　of　the　night　　　　　　　　Will　lend　thee　their　light；　　　　　　Like　tapers　clear　without　number。

　　　　〃Then；　Julia；　let　me　woo　thee；　　　　　　Thus；　thus　to　come　unto　me；　　　　　　　　And　when　I　shall　meet　　　　　　　　Thy　silvery　feet；　　　　　　My　soul　I'll　pour　into　thee。〃


The　song　might　have　been　intended　in　compliment　to　the　fair　Julia；　for　so　I　found　his　partner　was　called；　or　it　might　not；　she；　however；　was　certainly　unconscious　of　any　such　application；　for　she　never　looked　at　the　singer；　but　kept　her　eyes　cast　upon　the　floor。　Her　face　was　suffused；　it　is　true；　with　a　beautiful　blush；　and　there　was　a　gentle　heaving　of　the　bosom；　but　all　that　was　doubtless　caused　by　the　exercise　of　the　dance；　indeed；　so　great　was　her　indifference；　that　she　was　amusing　herself　with　plucking　to　pieces　a　choice　bouquet　of　hothouse　flowers；　and　by　the　time　the　song　was　concluded；　the　nosegay　lay　in　ruins　on　the　floor。

The　party　now　broke　up　for　the　night　with　the　kind…hearted　old　custom　of　shaking　hands。　　As　I　passed　through　the　hall；　on　the　way　to　my　chamber；　the　dying　embers　of　the　Yule…clog　still　sent　forth　a　dusky　glow；　and　had　it　not　been　the　season　when　〃no　spirit　dares　stir　abroad；〃　I　should　have　been　half　tempted　to　steal　from　my　room　at　midnight；　and　peep　whether　the　fairies　might　not　be　at　their　revels　about　the　hearth。

My　chamber　was　in　the　old　part　of　the　mansion；　the　ponderous　furniture　of　which　might　have　been　fabricated　in　the　days　of　the　giants。　　The　room　was　panelled　with　cornices　of　heavy　carved　work；　in　which　flowers　and　grotesque　faces　were　strangely　intermingled；　and　a　row　of　black　looking　portraits　stared　mournfully　at　me　from　the　walls。　　The　bed　was　of　rich　though　faded　damask；　with　a　lofty　tester；　and　stood　in　a　niche　opposite　a　bow　window。　　I　had　scarcely　got　into　bed　when　a　strain　of　music　seemed　to　break　forth　in　the　air　just　below　the　window。　　I　listened；　and　found　it　proceeded　from　a　band；　which　I　concluded　to　be　the　waits　from　some　neighbouring　village。　　They　went　round　the　house；　playing　under　the　windows。

I　drew　aside　the　curtains；　to　hear　them　more　distinctly。　　The　moonbeams　fell　through　the　upper　part　of　the　casement；　partially　lighting　up　the　antiquated　apartment。　　The　sounds；　as　they　receded；　became　more　soft　and　aerial；　and　seemed　to　accord　with　quiet　and　moonlight。　　I　listened　and　listenedthey　became　more　and　more　tender　and　remote；　and；　as　they　gradually　died　away；　my　head　sank　upon　the　pillow　and　I　fell　asleep。



Christmas　Day


Dark　and　dull　night；　flie　hence　away；　And　give　the　honour　to　this　day　That　Sees　December　turn'd　to　May。　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　Why　does　the　chilling　winter's　morne　Smile　like　a　field　beset　with　corn？　Or　smell　like　to　a　meade　new…shorne；　Thus　on　the　sudden？Come　and　see　The　cause　why　things　thus　fragrant　be。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HERRICK。


When　I　awoke　the　next　morning；　it　seemed　as　if　all　the　events　of　the　preceding　evening　had　been　a　dream；　and　nothing　but　the　identity　of　the　ancient　chamber　convinced　me　of　their　reality。　While　I　lay　musing　on　my　pillow；　I　heard　the　sound　of　little　feet　pattering　outside　of　the　door；　and　a　whispering　consultation。　Presently　a　choir　of　small　voices　chanted　forth　an　old　Christmas　carol；　the　burden　of　which　was：


　　　　　〃Rejoice；　our　Saviour　he　was　born　　　　　　　On　Christmas　Day　in　the　morning。〃


I　rose　softly；　slipped　on　my　clothes；　opened　the　door　suddenly；　and　beheld　one　of　the　most　beautiful　little　fairy　groups　that　a　painter　could　imagine。

It　consisted　of　a　boy　and　two　girls；　the　eldest　not　more　than　six；　and　lovely　as　seraphs。　　They　were　going　the　rounds　of　the　house；　and　singing　at　every　chamber…door；　but　my　sudden　appearance　frightened　them　into　mute　bashfulness。　　They　remained　for　a　moment　playing　on　their　lips　with　their　fingers；　and　now　and　then　stealing　a　shy　glance；　from　under　their　eyebrows；　until；　as　if　by　one　impulse；　they　scampered　away；　and　as　they　turned　an　angle　of　the　gallery；　I　heard　them　laughing　in　triumph　at　their　escape。

Everything　conspired　to　produce　kind　and　happy　feelings　in　this　stronghold　of　old…fashioned　hospitality。　　The　window　of　my　chamber　looked　out　upon　what　in　summer　would　have　been　a　beautiful　landscape。　　There　was　a　sloping　lawn；　a　fine　stream　winding　at　the　foot　of　it；　and　a　tract　of　park　beyond；　with　noble　clumps　of　trees；　and　herds　of　deer。　　At　a　distance　was　a　neat　hamlet；　with　the　smoke　from　the　cottage　chimneys　hanging　over　it；　and　a　church　with　its　dark　spire　in　strong　relief　against　the　clear；　cold　sky。　　The　house　was　surrounded　with　evergreens；　according　to　the　English　custom；　which　would　have　given　almost　an　appearance　of　summer；　but　the　morning　was　extremely　frosty；　the　light　vapour　of　the　preceding　evening　had　been　precipitated　by　the　cold；　and　covered　all　the　trees　and　every　blade　of　grass　with　its　fine　crystallisations。　　The　rays　of　a　bright　morning　sun　had　a　dazzling　effect　among　the　glittering　foliage。　　A　robin；　perched　upon　the　top　of　a　mountain…　ash　that　hung　its　clusters　of　red　berries　just　before　my　window；　was　basking　himself　in　the　sunshine；　and　piping　a　few　querulous　notes；　and　a　peacock　was　displaying　all　the　glories　of　his　train；　and　strutting　with　the　pride　and　gravity　of　a　Spanish　grandee　on　the　terrace…walk　below。

I　had　scarcely　dressed　myself；　when　a　servant　appeared　to　invite　me　to　family　prayers。　　He　showed　me　the　way　to　a　small　chapel　in　the　old　wing　of　the　house；　where　I　found　the　principal　part　of　the　family　already　assembled　in　a　kind　of　gallery；　furnished　with　cushions；　hassocks；　and　large　prayer…books；　the　servants　were　seated　on　benches　below。　　The　old　gentleman　read　prayers　from　a　desk　in　front　of　the　gallery；　and　Master　Simon　acted　as　clerk；　and　made　the　responses；　and　I　must　do　him　the　justice　to　say　that　he　acquitted　himself　with　great　gravity　and　decorum。

The　service　was　followed　by　a　Christmas　carol；　which　Mr。　Bracebridge　himself　had　constructed　from　a　poem　of　his　favourite　author；　Herrick；　and　it　had　been　adapted　to　an　old　church　melody　by　Master　Simon。　　As　there　were　se